TW1 - Everybody is Talking About Me (Jimmy Chester) Potlach Music
This title could be misleading. This album takes you the listener as far into the Northwest coastal Native American life of an extremely guarded and even seldom spoken-of ancient society as any outsider would ever be allowed to witness and experience. The songs and dances of this Potlatch society are still very alive after thousands of years.
A dedicated time together for very sacred time of ceremony. Usually a naming ceremony or wedding.
These are actual songs used in the area stretching all the way from Neah Bay, Washington, up the Pacific coast side of Vancover Island in British Columbia, Canada. They were composed by Elder Jimmy Chester from Nit Nat village on the west side of southern Vancover Island. They are not a facsimile. These are real songs used in guarded ceremony.
The title is actually realistic, spoken-of for many reasons. Some of the people with the ancient knowledge of their people's practices during these secret guarded ceremonies are in shock and awe that Jimmy would be so daring as to share his power songs with the world. Some of the other singers are just plain-old jealous (something most of us can relate to). Jimmy sings with a hand-held drum and is accompanied by Lester and Wade Greene from the Makah tribe of Neah Bay, WA as background singers. I myself, Paul Eubanks, am aloud to witness and record as a trusted guardian of Jimmy's vocal treasures. I'm instructed where and how to share these super rare messages through song. Jimmy indeed has instructed me to make these available for all respectful listeners to get a beginning taste of the mysteriously powerful sound of Potlatch songs that reach back thousands of years to the first people of his region. Further information is to be spoken by me, Paul Eubanks, personally so that misunderstandings will not continue. This is as rare of an experience as is allowed outside of Jimmy's blood family. Zero editing with the songs! Two very powerful Wolf Dance songs are on the album.